Old Mine Cut Diamonds

Perhaps the most common diamond cut from the early 18th century to the late 19th century, the old mine cut evokes the past, when diamonds were measured by eye and cut by hand. Recognized by their squarish shape, the old mine cut diamond has 58- facets like today’s modern round brilliant cut diamond, but that’s where […]
Sapphires in Engagement

The Sapphire, associated with royalty and romance, is a precious gemstone belonging to the Corundum mineral family, which also includes ruby. Sapphires are typically found in igneous rocks and alluvial deposits, with some of the most famous sources being found in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Australia. One of the most popular gemstones in the […]
Engagement Ring Trends 2023

The style of engagement rings and the appetite of brides-to-be for uniqueness continues to evolve in a heady aroma of individualism. Traditional styling remains but gives way to a melange of contemporary & vintage styling with unexpected cuts, settings & colours. The sheer volume of choice in 2023 is inspiring for both couples & jewellery […]
Engagement Ring Trends 2022

1. Laboratory Grown Diamonds Diamonds are and will remain for the foreseeable future the go-to, first choice for gemstones in engagement rings. Laboratory grown diamonds are relatively new to the South African bridal market, but are sure to gain popularity as awareness grows. Laboratory grown diamonds are real diamonds, they are grown in specialised laboratories […]
Spinel Fit For Engagement

Dubbed ‘The great imposter’ by the GIA, the most famous spinels in history masqueraded as rubies in Europe’s crown jewels. It wasn’t until 1783 when spinel was chemically differentiated from ruby by mineralogist Jean Baptiste Louis Rome de Lisle, that The ‘Black Prince’s ruby’, a large irregular red cabochon set at the front of the Imperial State […]
Moissanite Fact and Fiction

Moissanite, in its natural form, remains very rare. Discovered in 1893 by French chemist Henri Moissan while examining rock samples from a meteor crater, he mistakenly identified the crystals as diamonds, only to be correctly identified by Moissan as silicon carbide in 1904. The mineral form of silicon carbide was named in honour of Moissan later on […]
Salt & Pepper Diamonds

Salt and Pepper diamonds are real mined diamonds. ‘Salt and Pepper’ is a marketing term used to describe included diamonds, with ‘Salt’ referring to white inclusions and ‘Pepper’ referring to black inclusions which are highly visible within the diamond. The majority of natural diamonds mined are highly included, and for years these diamonds were perceived […]